Retirement for a musician

Retirement

Retirement for musicians comes slowly in stages or sometimes suddenly, in my opinion.

Support local, live music by Terry Wiles

You can stay in the game as long as you want if you take good care of yourself, or if you’re just very blessed. It happens. If it’s His will, of course.

Now some good choices have to be made or it’s a long hard climb. Believe me I know.

Unless you’re a hard worker, have a lot of passion, persistence, talent and a good personality, music is mostly a side job. There’s a fine line between making a living playing music in a rural or mid-level market and just making enough to buy bigger equipment. So, a good day job will be required.

I started playing in the 1970s, where the credo for the bands was “bigger was better!”

The ultimate for a PA was Peavey SP-2 and an eight-channel head. The speakers took three band members to put them on stands, and there were no monitors, just playing by instincts and guts. The Bose system was out of reach for most. They used the little bitty two-inch speakers. For guitar, you had arrived if you had a 100-watt Marshall or a stack of Marshall amps. I played through a Fender Professional 300 on bass, which was super heavy in weight and almost too much for a 100-seat late night club.

Now, a trailer or a van was required. The whole band could ride in a van, right?

Ahhhhh, but we were young and strong and still had good hearing.

Approaching middle age, playing two to three nights a week was still pleasant, and if you figured the time spent against the paycheck, you were making close to $10 an hour. Retirement was for our parents, so no need

to worry about that. There was the “only-the-good-die-young” attitude. Then some did. Somewhere between ages 50 and 60 years old, we started looking for a much lighter set-up for gigs. The back problems, pulled shoulders and weak knees were more of a problem. Moans and groans were louder than “Are you having a good time?” Much to our surprise, we realized that we were getting older.

Retirement began to look more approachable. There were subtle changes in our playing, cutting back on nights played, giving up on singing some songs, getting stools, setting down to play, being a little hard of hearing and reading glasses. Old age was creeping in, and we talked about retirement, someday.

Most never have to completely stop playing, just cut back on nights on stage. Now, more use the talents that God gave.

Wisely, they use their skills to be the very best in entertainment. Now and then, when we get together, to tell our stories of fame and glory on stage. It was “Glory Days” to say the least.

Support local live music and enjoy the experience that a live band brings you. Whether it’s seasoned and tight, or has the exuberance of youth. Show them that you appreciate them by donating in the tip jar. Kudos to all those musicians still gigging in their prime of life. Keep on rocking. I miss it.

• • •

Hillbilly Vegas is doing another England tour for the next two weeks with the biggest night being in Scotland at the three-night music fest. The band is riding a wave of several streaming charts with their latest single, “Let It Ride.” It’s been in the Top 20 for three weeks now.

• • •

As for live music this week, “The Tribadours” will play at Joe’s Grill and Cantina for Taco Tuesday beginning at 6 tonight.

“Wess is More” lives up to the name. Wesley Trout will bring the very best country dance music for Muldrow City Limits on Saturday. Wesley draws from his friends, and it’s top-notch music that wafts through the dance hall. Be prepared for a night of fun. The dance will kick off at 7 p.m.

• • •

That ain’t all I got to say on this subject, but it’s a good place to stop.

Coming from the sidelines, enjoying listening if not playing, from retirement, TJW.

For additional information about any live-music event or to let me know of any such venues, call or text message me at (918) 649-5736 or e-mail me at [email protected].

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